the little I had heard about the war
rushed across my mind, and I saw at once that, catching the infection,
at least one of the native tribes which had been disarmed, and were
previously living at peace, had broken out, seizing the opportunity of
their Dutch and English masters being at enmity to take one side or the
other, possibly with some vague idea that they would thus regain their
independence.

What this warrior might be I could not tell at a distance, for he might
prove a Zulu still smarting under the defeat inflicted upon his nation
by the British, or a Swazi who bitterly hated the Boers for their brutal
treatment during the past.

I felt I ought to be able to tell at once by his appearance; but my
knowledge was, after all, imperfect, and I certainly could not at a
distance make out to what nation the man belonged.

I had not long time for consideration, as Sandho was steadily carrying
me nearer; but I decided to go as close as I could without getting
within range of an assagai; for it was worth some risk to get in touch
with a friendly native in my emergency, since I knew he would try all he
could to furnish me with food.

So I rode slowly on, straining my eyes the while to scan the various
points in his slight dress, but keeping a sharp lookout right and left
to make sure that his companions, if he had any, were not, after their
fashion, crawling along under cover to outflank me. However, all seemed
safe, for there was no cover on either side; but below the black
warrior, and behind the ridge, there was ample space for a couple of
hundred of his kin to be lying out of sight, ready at a signal to spring
up and make a furious onslaught.

"And turn me into a sort of human pin-cushion, which they would fill
with their assagais," I said half-aloud. "That wouldn't do, Sandho, old
boy; so be ready to gallop off when I pull your rein."

My horse threw up his head and laid back his ears, beginning to bound
off at once; but I checked him.

"Not yet, old boy; not yet. When I give the word you must make a
half-turn, and we must try and circumvent them--if it is them, and not
only one.--How near dare I go?" I asked myself; and I decided that
forty yards would be as far as I ought to venture, being of course well
on the _qui vive_.

The black--Swazi or Zulu--looked a terribly formidable enemy as he stood
above me, clearly seen against the sky, and I was beginning to feel that
I must not go much farther; but I